2018 Chevrolet TAHOE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2018 Chevrolet TAHOE has 130 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is other problems (18% of all complaints), specifically: i purchased a 2018 tahoe 20 days ago and at 45 mph and 65-75 mph i feel pressure in my ears which then makes me feel nauseous which leads to severe headaches. this buffering occurs every time i drive it. i have tried driving with the windows down / up, radio on / off. nothing changes to lessen the .

4 crash reports 3 injuries

130

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

OTHER

23 complaints

18%

• I PURCHASED A 2018 TAHOE 20 DAYS AGO AND AT 45 MPH AND 65-75 MPH I FEEL PRESSURE IN MY EARS WHICH THEN MAKES ME FEEL NAUSEOUS WHICH LEADS TO SEVERE HEADACHES. THIS BUFFERING OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT. I HAVE TRIED DRIVING WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN / UP, RADIO ON / OFF. NOTHING CHANGES TO LESSEN THE
• COLLISION ALERT SYSTEM DOES NOT FUNCTION WITH ENOUGH WARNING DISTANCE ON THE SEAT VIBRATION AND RED FLASH PROJECTION ON THE WINDSHIELD. THE DRIVER ESSENTIALLY MUST NEAR COLLIDE WITH AN OBJECT OR VEHICLE FOR THIS FEATURE TO WORK. THE YELLOW CAUTION INDICATOR IN THE DASH DISPLAY WILL LIGHT-UP BUT
• I OWN A 2018 CHEVROLET TAHOE PREMIERE WITH THE RST 6.2L PERFORMANCE PACKAGE. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE OPTIONAL PERFORMANCE FRONT BRAKE UPGRADE SYSTEM. I RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING RECALL: GM PROGRAM # N182155600, CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM #18119 - SPARE TIRE DOES NOT FIT OVER PERFORMANCE FRONT BRA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“I PURCHASED A 2018 TAHOE 20 DAYS AGO AND AT 45 MPH AND 65-75 MPH I FEEL PRESSURE IN MY EARS WHICH THEN MAKES ME FEEL NAUSEOUS WHICH LEADS TO SEVERE HEADACHES. THIS BUFFERING OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT. I HAVE TRIED DRIVING WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN / UP, RADIO ON / OFF. NOTHING CHANGES TO LESSEN THE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

21 complaints

16%

• WHEN ACCELERATING IT SOUNDS LIKE MY VEHICLE IS STUCK IN BRAKE DEGRADING OR IS MAKING THAT DISTINGUISHING NOISE. MY VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP FOR THE SECOND TIME TO FIX THE SAME ISSUE OF PARK ASSIST, SIDE DETECTION AND FRONT CAMERA SERVICE. WHEN EXPRESSING MY CONCERN FOR THIS PROBLEM OF THE SOUND THE DE
• Transmission issues on 2018 Chevy Tahoe. The vehicle stopped on the Hwy. Dealership says the transmission needs to be replaced. Is uncertain why the transmission has gone out on the vehicle since it’s only 4 years old. Error message came on my vehicle and I called the dealership. From my researc
• The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. Recently, the contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer where they diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure. The

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“WHEN ACCELERATING IT SOUNDS LIKE MY VEHICLE IS STUCK IN BRAKE DEGRADING OR IS MAKING THAT DISTINGUISHING NOISE. MY VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP FOR THE SECOND TIME TO FIX THE SAME ISSUE OF PARK ASSIST, SIDE DETECTION AND FRONT CAMERA SERVICE. WHEN EXPRESSING MY CONCERN FOR THIS PROBLEM OF THE SOUND THE DE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

19 complaints

15%

• SITTING IN TRAFFIC ON I 95 AND HAD TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE AND BEGAN ROLLING BACK IN TRAFFIC AND HAD USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR TWICE. CANNOT BELIEVE THAT GM IS ALLOWED TO SALE A VEHICLE THAT THEY NOW HAS SERIOUS PROBLEMS AND IS ALLOWED TO PUT MY FAMILIES LIFE AND OTHERS AT RISK OF DEATH.
• SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST MESSAGE ON DASH BOARD. THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL HAS A RECALL BUT MY VIN# IS NOT SHOWING AN ISSUE THOUGH MY VEHICLE IA HAVING BRAKING PROBLEMS. DEALER SAYS NO RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE. WHY NOT MY VEHICLE? IT IS DEFINITELY THE ISSUE UNDER THE 2018 TAHOE RECALL.
• OVER THE LAST 6 MONTHS THE BRAKE PEDAL IS HARD TO PUSH AFTER THE TRUCK SITS OVER NIGHT. THE VACUUM BLEEDS OUT INDICATING A VACUUM LEAK IN THE SYSTEM. GM AND THE DEALER SAID THIS MODEL AND YEAR NOT COVERED UNDER CURRENT RECALL.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“SITTING IN TRAFFIC ON I 95 AND HAD TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE AND BEGAN ROLLING BACK IN TRAFFIC AND HAD USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR TWICE. CANNOT BELIEVE THAT GM IS ALLOWED TO SALE A VEHICLE THAT THEY NOW HAS SERIOUS PROBLEMS AND IS ALLOWED TO PUT MY FAMILIES LIFE AND OTHERS AT RISK OF DEATH.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

17 complaints

13%

• WE JUST HAD TO SPEND $1,000 TO HAVE THE RADIATOR REPLACED ON OUR 2018 CHEVROLET TAHOE BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING WHICH ONLY HAS 32,050 MILES ON IT. THE TAHOE HAD A 3 YEAR 36,000 MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY, BUT WE WERE TWO (2) DAYS PAST THE 3 YEAR MARK SO THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT. THE TAHOE ALSO HAS
• On July 29, 2022 my Tahoe broke down on me while driving home from work. It started to lose speed while on a busy highway during rush hour. I started losing speed and I kept giving it gas and it wouldn’t go. I kept trying to get speed to try and get off the highway to avoid getting into an accident
• A lifter collapsed, which in turn damaged the lobes of a piston, which then damaged the camshaft...generating a repair bill of $7,100 per the dealer. The vehicle only has 69,200 miles on it. When the lifter failed, the car shuddered at stops, lost some power and made a noticeable clanking noise.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“WE JUST HAD TO SPEND $1,000 TO HAVE THE RADIATOR REPLACED ON OUR 2018 CHEVROLET TAHOE BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING WHICH ONLY HAS 32,050 MILES ON IT. THE TAHOE HAD A 3 YEAR 36,000 MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY, BUT WE WERE TWO (2) DAYS PAST THE 3 YEAR MARK SO THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT. THE TAHOE ALSO HAS”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

12 complaints

• BACK UP CAMERA HAS ZERO VISIBILITY WHILE BACKING UP DURING NIGHT IN DARK AREA WITH RAIN CONDITION. THE REAR BACK UP LIGHTS DO NO ILLUMINATE ENOUGH LIGHT TO GUIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CAMERA IMAGE IS TOO GRAINY, DISTORTED AND PIXELATED.
• ON THE EVENING OF NOVEMBER 27TH, MY CAR WITH 10,200 MILES HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES MAKING IT UNDRIVABLE. I ATTEMPTED TO PULL MY CAR OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, I FELT A HARD THRUST. THE THRUST WAS SO HARD THAT I FELT LIKE A CAR HIT ME. I ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE; HOWEV
• I WAS UNLOADING GROCERIES FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR. THE TAILGATE SENSOR UNDER THE CAR SENSED MY FEET AND BEGAN TO CLOSE. THE TAILGATE CONTINUED TO CLOSE ON ME, NOT STOPPING AFTER COMING INTO CONTACT WITH ME AS I QUICKLY DUCKED OUT OF THE WAY.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“BACK UP CAMERA HAS ZERO VISIBILITY WHILE BACKING UP DURING NIGHT IN DARK AREA WITH RAIN CONDITION. THE REAR BACK UP LIGHTS DO NO ILLUMINATE ENOUGH LIGHT TO GUIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CAMERA IMAGE IS TOO GRAINY, DISTORTED AND PIXELATED.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 130 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
OTHER: I PURCHASED A 2018 TAHOE 20 DAYS AGO AND AT 45 MPH AND 65-75 MPH I FEEL PRESSURE IN MY EARS WHICH THEN MAKES ME FEEL NAUSEOUS WHICH LEADS TO SEVERE HEADACHES. THIS BUFFERING OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT. I HAVE TRIED DRIVING WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN / UP, RADIO ON / OFF. NOTHING CHANGES TO LESSEN THE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: WHEN ACCELERATING IT SOUNDS LIKE MY VEHICLE IS STUCK IN BRAKE DEGRADING OR IS MAKING THAT DISTINGUISHING NOISE. MY VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP FOR THE SECOND TIME TO FIX THE SAME ISSUE OF PARK ASSIST, SIDE DETECTION AND FRONT CAMERA SERVICE. WHEN EXPRESSING MY CONCERN FOR THIS PROBLEM OF THE SOUND THE DE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: SITTING IN TRAFFIC ON I 95 AND HAD TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE AND BEGAN ROLLING BACK IN TRAFFIC AND HAD USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR TWICE. CANNOT BELIEVE THAT GM IS ALLOWED TO SALE A VEHICLE THAT THEY NOW HAS SERIOUS PROBLEMS AND IS ALLOWED TO PUT MY FAMILIES LIFE AND OTHERS AT RISK OF DEATH.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: WE JUST HAD TO SPEND $1,000 TO HAVE THE RADIATOR REPLACED ON OUR 2018 CHEVROLET TAHOE BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING WHICH ONLY HAS 32,050 MILES ON IT. THE TAHOE HAD A 3 YEAR 36,000 MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY, BUT WE WERE TWO (2) DAYS PAST THE 3 YEAR MARK SO THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT. THE TAHOE ALSO HAS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)